Method of making hosiery



Aug; 2, 1939. J. L BEERS ET AL METHOD or MAKING HOSIERY- Original Filed Jan. 6, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Joseph L. Beers and flaw J dflawakeyer MW .flfc to rmey 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J03 liar as J. Slrnzqssber g- 22,1939 J. BEERS ET AL METHOD OF MAKING HOSIERY Original Filed Jan. 6, 1938 Patented Aug. 22, 1939 METHOD OF MAKING HOSIERY Joseph L Beers, Bloomfield, N. 1;, and mm J. Straussbcrger, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to Julius Kayser & 00., Brooklyn, Y.

Original application.,.lanuary 6, 1938, Serial No.

183,572. Divided and this application November 10, 1938, Serial No. 239,804

11 Claims;{ (Cl.'66-173) The present invention relates to a method of making hosiery, more particularly to a method of manufacturing stockings of the type commonly known in the art as mesh stockings, and

having a combined leg and instep portion cut to shape from open work fabric, such as mesh, lace, or like material, and welt and foot sections of weft knitted fabric. Specifically, the invention pertains to the method of uniting the welt fabric to the leg fabric disclosed in our co-pending application, Serial Number 183,572, filed January 6, 1938, now Patent No. 2,145,471, of which this application is a division.

The invention has for one of its main objects the provision of a method of making the welt section and of uniting the same to the corresponding parts of the combined leg and instep portion, whereby to provide an improved connection therebetween.

It is still another important object of the invention to provide a method of knitting a stocking part and uniting the same to a stocking leg fabric section, whereby to produce an invisible combined interknitted and stitched or sewed connection therebetween.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a method of knitting the welt fabric and I connecting it to a leg fabric in such a way that the plurality of fabric thicknesses are formed,

between which is inserted and imprisoned a substantial amount of the leg fabric, thereby producing a seam having an increased strength and a pleasing, finished appearance.

, Other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by persons skilled in the art, we have, in the accompanying drawings and in the detailed description based thereupon, set out possible embodiments of the invention.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating a finished stocking constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a composite view illustrating the cut leg and instep blank and the welt construction.

Figures 3 to 8 inclusive are diagrammatic representations of the steps followed in knitting the welt and uniting it to the leg blank.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout,

we have shown in Figure 1 a complete and finished stocking l consisting of a leg 2, in-. cluding an instep 3, a foot 4, and a welt 5.

The leg 2 is preferably formed with a leg fabric blank 6 cut, substantially in the shape 5 represented in Figure 2, from a sheet of suitable fabric, preferably mesh, lace, or open work warp knit fabric. It will be noted that the opposite side edges 1 of the blank 6 from the marginal edge 8 along the line a-a at one end of said 10 blank are cut and fashioned so that the blank will suitably fit the shape of a human leg when said edges 1 are sewed together to form the stocking.

It will also be noted that the edges 9 along 15 the line b-b at the lower portion of the blank 6, are cut at substantially right angles with respect to the edges I and to the edges In, the latter extending between the points defined by said line b-b and line 0-0 which is along the 20 marginal edge H at the other end of the blank.

It is, of course, to be understood that the cutting of the blank along the edges 9, as shown herein, is specifically intended for the formation of an ordinary high-splice heel, but if it is de- 25 sirable to form a different type of heel, such as a pointed heel, then the blank may be cut so that the edges 9 will be at an angle different from that shown, in order to adapt itself to the formation of the desired type of heel. 30

The section of the blank from the line b-b to the line c-c (the length of which section may vary, depending upon the foot size), constitutes the instep 3, and those portions thereof adjacent the edgesS, l8, and II are adapted to be con- 35 nected to our improved foot 4, the construction of which is more clearly shown and described in our co-pending applications, Serial Number 183,572, filed January 6, 1938 and Serial Number 208,796, filed May 19, 1938.

The welt 5 may be of any suitable or desirable construction but, as represented in the drawings, is preferably made from a fiat knitted fabric blank ll of general rectangular formation with 5 the selvedge edges 42 thereof adapted to become substantially aligned with the selvedge edges of the adjacent portion of the leg fabric blank 6 when connected thereto. The welt fabric blank ll also is preferably provided with a medial picot 50 course 43 along which said blank is folded, whereby to form the commonly known double welt.

Although the welt blank ll may be connected to the corresponding portion of the leg blank in 5 any suitable manner, we prefer to effect the connection as follows:

The welt blank 4| is knitted upon any suitable well known knitting machine. Prior to the turning of the welt, the corresponding portion of the leg fabric blank 6 adjacent the edge 8 thereof is topped on the knitting needles N2 so that a short section Go of said leg fabric blank projects from the inner side of the needles, the remaining portion of the leg fabric blank being allowed to drop off one side of the welt blank, as represented in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The welt blank is then turned, as is customary,

and a course of knitted loops 4Ia is formed to interknit the walls of the welt blank with the corresponding portion of the leg fabric blank therebetween. The short section 6a of the leg fabric blank is subsequently brought over the needles to disengage the same and a few courses knitted to provide a welt extension Mb substantially equal in size to the short section Go of the leg fabric blank. The welt blank is then removed off the machine and, as shown in Figure 7, the welt extension Mb and short section 60. of leg fabric blank sewed together, preferably by means of a triple needle stitching machine, as illustrated at 54'. The welt blank is finally turned inside out, as shown in Figure 8,. forming a hem 55' enclosing the interknit and seamed connection,- after which the stocking is completed, as hereinbefore described.

In concluding, we wish it to be understood that other modifications in the mode of practicing and constructing the invention may be made and, therefore, any modifications coming within the scope of the subjoined claims are to be considered within the spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. The method of uniting a knitted stocking leg fabric blank with the folded sections of a knitted double ply welt blank, comprising: interknitting the marginal coursewise edge portions of the folded sections of said welt blank and a course of the leg blank so that the normal upper edge portion of the latter projects beyond the marginal edge portion of the welt blank; knitting an extension at the marginal coursewise edge portions of the folded sections of said welt blank; stitching together said extension and projected edge portion of the leg blank; and turning the folded sections of the welt blank inside out.

2. The method of uniting a knitted stocking leg fabric blank with the folded sections of a knitted double ply welt blank comprising: interknitting the marginal coursewise edges of the folded sections of said welt blank and a course of the leg blank so that the normal upper edge portion of the latter projects beyond said marginal edges of the welt blank; knitting an extension at the marginal coursewise edges of the folded sections of said welt blank; stitching together said extension and projecting edge portion of the leg blank; and turning the folded sections of the welt blank inside out.

'3. The method of uniting a knitted stocking leg fabric blank with the folded sections of a "knitted double ply welt blank, comprising: positioning the leg blank between the folded sections of said welt blank so that the normal upper edge portion of said leg blank projects beyond the marginal coursewise edge portions of the folded sections of said blank; interknitting the marginal coursewise edge portions of the folded sections of said welt blank and a course of the leg blank; knitting an extension at the marginal coursewise edge portions of the folded sections of said welt blank; stitching together said extension and projecting edge portion of the leg blank; and turning 1 the folded sections of the welt blank inside out.

4. The method of uniting a knitted stocking leg fabric blank with the folded sections of a knitted double ply welt blank comprising: positioning the leg blank between the folded sections of said welt blank so that the normal upper edge portion of said leg blank projects beyond the marginal coursewise edges of the folded sections of the welt blank; interknitting the marginal coursewise edges of the folded sections of said welt blank and a course of the leg blank; knitting an extension at the marginal coursewise edges of the folded sections of said welt blank; stitching together said extension and projecting edge portion of the leg blank; and turning the folded sections of the welt blank inside out.

5. The method of uniting a stocking sectionbeing knitted with a stocking section previously knitted comprising: topping the previously knitted stocking section on the needles of a knitting machine at the completion of the stocking section being knitted so that the major portion of the previously knitted s'ection extends outwardly of the needles and a short portion of said previously knitted stocking section extends inwardly of the needles; folding said stocking section being knitted welt fashion; interknitting the folded section with the previously knitted stocking section therebetween; disengaging the short portion of the previously knitted stocking section from the needles; knitting an extension as a continuation of said folded section; stitching said extension and short portion together; and finally turning inside out the folded and interknitted section.

6. The method of uniting a welt fabric being knitted with a stocking leg fabric previously knitted comprising: topping the previously knitted stocking leg fabric onto the needles of a knitting machine at the completion of the welt fabric so that the major portion of said leg fabric extends outwardly of the needles and a short portion of said leg fabric extends inwardly of the needles; folding the welt fabric so that the folded sections thereof form a double ply together; and finally turning inside out the folded inte-rknit-sections of the welt.

7. The method of uniting a stocking leg fabric section with the fabric of another part of a stocking comprising: knitting the stocking part on the needles of .a flat' knitting machine; topping the marginal portion of the leg fabric on the needles so that the major portion of said leg fabric extends outwardly of the needles overlaying the knitted part, and a short portion of said leg fabric extends inwardly of the needles; folding said stocking part welt-fashion; interknitting the folded fabric with the leg fabric therebetween; disengaging the short portion of the leg fabric from the needles; knitting an extension as a continuation of the folded stocking part; stitching said extension and short portion'together; and finally turning inside out the folded and interknitted stocking part.

8. The method of uniting a stocking leg fabric section with a welt fabric comprising: knitting the welt fabricon the needles of a flat knitting machine; topping the marginal portion of the leg fabric on the needles so that the major portion of said leg fabric extends outwardly of the needles overlaying the welt fabric, and a short portion of said leg fabric extends inwardly of the needles; folding the welt fabric; interknitting the folded welt with the leg fabric therebetween; disengaging the short portion of the le fabric from the needles; knitting an extension as a continuation of the folded welt fabric; stitching said extension and short portion together; and finally turning inside out the foldedand interknitted welt fabric.

9. The method of uniting a stocking leg fabric blank with the folded sections of a knitted double ply welt blank, comprising: positioning the leg blank between the folded sections of said welt blank so that the normal upper edge portion of said leg blank projects beyond the marginal coursewise edge portions of the folded sections of said welt blank; vinterknitting the marginal coursewise edge portions of the folded sections of said welt blank and a sectionof the leg blank adjacent said edge portion thereof; knitting an extensional; the marginal coursewise edge portions of the folded sections of said welt blank; stitching together said extension and projecting edge portion of the leg blank; and turning the comprising: impaling the previously the previously made section extends outwardly I of the needles and a short portion of said previously madestocking section extends inwardly blank over the made blank so that the normal upper edge portion of said leg blank projects beyond one of the diametrically opposed marginal edge portions of the welt blank; folding the welt blank to bring the other diametrically opposed-marginal edge portion in registration with its first mentioned marginal edge portion, and in overlapping relation to the section of the leg blank adjacent said upper edge portion thereof, and interknitting said marginal edge portions of the welt blank with said section of the legblank therebetween; knitting an extension as a continuation of the interknitted marginal edge portions of the welt blank; stitching together said extension and'projecting edge portion of the leg blank; and turning the folded welt blank inside out.

JOSEPH L. BEERS. ans J. smaossnnaona. 

